Bag filling and closing apparatus

A bag filling and closing apparatus comprising:

• a bag filling station for receiving an opened bag to be filled and for filling in a material into the opened bag;
• a first bag supplying station disposed on a first side of said bag filling station;
• a second bag supplying station disposed on a second side of said bag filling station;
• a movable carriage means movable back and forth between said bag filling station and said first and second bag supplying stations;
• first opening means disposed on said movable carriage means for receiving and opening a bag when said first opening means is at said first bag supplying station, said first opening means including a first spreading open and holding device for gripping, spreading open, and holding a bag to provide an opened bag;
• said first opening means holding the opened bag to be filled when said first opening means is at said bag filling station;
• second opening means disposed on said movable carriage means for receiving and opening a bag when said second opening means is at said second bag supplying station, said second opening means including a second spreading open and holding device for gripping, spreading open, and holding a bag to provide an opened bag;
• said second opening means holding the opened bag to be filled when said second opening means is at said bag filling station;
• and
• said movable carriage means alternately moving said first opening means between said bag filling station and said first bag supplying station, and said movable carriage means alternately moving said second opening means between said second bag supplying station and said bag filling station.